This photograph makes me think back to our first visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Those early days of discovery, of what became our favourite wilderness area to visit. We had yet to discover our favourite camps and figure out where the best game viewing areas were.

This photo is nostalgic for another reason – our bright blue Nissan Terrano (4 x 4) which made our early adventures in wilderness areas possible. We did some wonderful trips in that vehicle.

Lisa – what a great lesson as I now have to look up the position of the Park! Ok: from someone totally ignorant: come nightfall what kind of animals might you find wandering outside . . . are any likely to take out their wrath on house or car? Any snakes or other dangerous creepy-crawlies? [Yep, a stupid city kid from a different continent obviously !]

The Gharagab camp is one of the Kgalagadi wilderness camps. This means there are no fences to protect you from any predators – day or night. They have big cats there (lion, leopard and cheetah) as well as hyenas (Spotted Hyena and Brown Hyena). We have seen all of them pass through the camp – though usually at night or in the early mornings. No young children are allowed to stay in the unfenced camps. And yes to poisonous snakes and creepy-crawlies (scorpions and spiders). You can find a map of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and its position within South Africa here: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kgalagadi/images/maps/full_parkmap08.jpg

Thanks for the interesting link! Am trying to recall what info a dear Afrikaans engineer friend working all over Namibia sent me way back when! Before the days of instant communication!!! Meanwhile: don’t know how much sleep I’d get listening to strange noises outside the door . . . am used to looking out for snakes and spiders, the scorpion nasties would not thrill either 🙂 !!

Lovely photo, Lisa. Did you take this photo from a kopje near the camp? It’s amazing how far you can see to the horizon – the terrain looks so vast and flat! According to the SAN Parks website, you have to supply your own drinking water and firewood, and the camp is really isolated and far away from everywhere…

Yes, you feel like you can see forever. The photograph was taken from a water tower on a small koppie, in front of the game guard’s “chalet”. You need to take everything you’ll need along, so you need to plan well. The camp is only accessible by 4×4. When driving out the road goes across some dunes to add to the “fun”. When staying at our favourite camp at Grootkolk we often hear that the game guards report (by 2 way radio) that good sightings were seen at Gharagab.